Little Dorrit

by Charles Dickens

It affects the whole
machine, and failure is the consequence. You will profit by the
failure, and will avoid it another time. I have done a similar
thing myself, in construction, often. Every failure teaches a man
something, if he will learn; and you are too sensible a man not to
learn from this failure. So much for firstly. Secondly. I was
sorry you should have taken it so heavily to heart, and reproached
yourself so severely; I was travelling home night and day to put
matters right, with the assistance of our friend, when I fell in
with our friend as he has informed you. Thirdly. We two agreed,
that, after what you had undergone, after your distress of mind,
and after your illness, it would be a pleasant surprise if we could
so far keep quiet as to get things perfectly arranged without your
knowledge, and then come and say that all the affairs were smooth,
that everything was right, that the business stood in greater want
of you than ever it did, and that a new and prosperous career was
opened before you and me as partners. That's thirdly. But you
know we always make an allowance for friction, and so I have
reserved space to close in. My dear Clennam, I thoroughly confide
in you; you have it in your power to be quite as useful to me as I
have, or have had, it in my power to be useful to you; your old
place awaits you, and wants you very much; there is nothing to
detain you here one half-hour longer.'

There was silence, which was not broken until Arthur had stood for
some time at the window with his back towards them, and until his
little wife that was to be had gone to him and stayed by him.

'I made a remark a little while ago,' said Daniel Doyce then,
'which I am inclined to think was an incorrect one. I said there
was nothing to detain you here, Clennam, half an hour longer. Am
I mistaken in supposing that you would rather not leave here till
to-morrow morning? Do I know, without being very wise, where you
would like to go, direct from these walls and from this room?'

'You do,' returned Arthur. 'It has been our cherished purpose.'

'Very well!' said Doyce. 'Then, if this young lady will do me the
honour of regarding me for four-and-twenty hours in the light of a
father, and will take a ride with me now towards Saint Paul's
Churchyard, I dare say I know what we want to get there.'

Little Dorrit and he went out together soon afterwards, and Mr
Meagles lingered behind to say a word to his friend.

'I think, Arthur, you will not want Mother and me in the morning
and we will keep away. It might set Mother thinking about Pet;
she's a soft-hearted woman. She's best at the Cottage, and I'll
stay there and keep her company.'

With that they parted for the time. And the day ended, and the
night ended, and the morning came, and Little Dorrit, simply
dressed as usual and having no one with her but Maggy, came into
the prison with the sunshine. The poor room was a happy room that
morning. Where in the world was there a room so full of quiet joy!

'My dear love,' said Arthur. 'Why does Maggy light the fire? We
shall be gone directly.'

'I asked her to do it. I have taken such an odd fancy. I want you
to burn something for me.'

'What?'

'Only this folded paper. If you will put it in the fire with your
own hand, just as it is, my fancy will be gratified.